Companies and Brands

Phillip Morris Earnings Up in Smoke

Thinkstock

Phillip Morris International Inc. (NYSE: PM) released its third-quarter earnings report before the markets opened on Thursday. The company posted $1.27 in earnings per share (EPS) and $7.5 billion in revenue. Consensus estimates from Thomson Reuters had called for $1.38 in EPS on revenue of $7.72 billion. In the same period of last year, the cigarette-maker posted EPS of $1.25 and $6.98 billion in revenue.

For the quarter, cigarette and heated tobacco unit shipment volume fell by about 0.5% to 208.2 billion. Separately, cigarette shipment volume fell by 4.1% to $198.5 billion. and heated tobacco unit shipment volume was 9.7 billion units, up from 2.1 billion in 2016.

In terms of the outlook for the 2017 full year, Phillip Morris expects to see EPS in the range of $4.75 to $4.80 and net revenue growth of over 7%, excluding currency and acquisitions. The consensus estimates from Thomson Reuters are $4.84 in EPS and $28.62 billion in revenue.

During the quarter, Phillip Morris (PMI) increased its regular quarterly dividend by 2.9% from $1.04 to $1.07, representing an annualized rate of $4.28 per common share. Since its spin-off in March 2008, PMI has increased its regular quarterly dividend by 132.6% from the initial annualized rate of $1.84 per common share, or a compound annual growth rate of 9.8%.

CEO André Calantzopoulos commented:

As expected, our third-quarter financial results were very strong, including double-digit currency-neutral EPS growth.

We recorded a sequential improvement in our total volume performance, driven by both our combustible and reduced-risk products, and grew our international market share.

Despite pressure on profitability from adverse developments in Russia and Saudi Arabia, as well as significant investments behind IQOS, which continues its stellar performance, we are on track to deliver full-year currency-neutral adjusted diluted EPS growth of approximately 9% to 10%, highlighting both the strength of our combustible business and the exciting potential of a smoke-free future.

Shares of Phillip Morris were last seen down over 3% at $108.22, with a consensus analyst price target of $125.75 and a 52-week range of $86.78 to $123.55.

Essential Tips for Investing: Sponsored

A financial advisor can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of investment properties. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

Investing in real estate can diversify your portfolio. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. If you’re an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.